raising readers
Spiced Gingerbread Cupcakes One of my favorite things about holidays is when all of the special holiday goodies and flavors start to make their appearances. For example, I ham a huge Cadbury mini egg fan every easter. I wait all year for those little delights to appear and when I do I savor those crunchy…
“Life on Mars” by Jon Agee Doing something despite the odds and despite what the crowds of people around you say takes some real courage. That is what this little astronaut does when he heads out on a mission to Mars to prove his theory that there really is life there. Outfitted with nothing but…
“Everyone Loves Cupcake” by Kelly DiPucchio and Eric Wight Cupcake has a big personality and beloved by all the other food items she associates with. She is full of charm and confidence and seems to have everything going for her. However, Cupcake has a secret: she isn’t completely happy. She feels the pressure of having…
“The Lorax” was always a book that struck a chord with me as a child. I was a bit of a tomboy and had a deep love for trees. It is a love that I have carried with me my whole life. My favorite tree was a towering cherry tree in our yard that I…
“Winnie the Pooh” by A.A Milne and E.H Shephard I have always thought Winnie the Pooh and his little clan looked like a jolly bunch, but to be honest they were never a big part of my childhood. I don’t really know why, most likely because we didn’t get the T.V channel with the show when…
“The Christmas Eve Tree” by Delia Huddy and Emily Sutton This book is a heartwarming story about a little Christmas tree who finds purpose and joy. It starts off as a tree much smaller than the other trees and is overlooked and under appreciated. Then one night a little homeless boy sees potential and beauty…
“The 12 Hats of Christmas” by Brett O. Parson and Holly Parson Nielson We love Christmas books over here an awful lot. We love the ones about the magic of Santa and the beauty of snow, but often our favorite ones feature the spirit of Christmas and the joy of giving. These books really help…
Sparkling Cranberries with White Chocolate Frosting I love cranberries. I even just love how festive they look. I could decorate my house with bowls all season and be perfectly content. However, they are just to bitter for me on their own and that is why I prefer them drenched and dusted in sugar and surrounded…
My grandmother has always been one of the most important people in my life. She was one of those people that you just knew loved every bit of you the way you were and would love you forever. She had a voracious love of reading that she passed down and was the one who got…
It is the beginning of strawberry season right now and I am beyond excited! I adore strawberries! So much so in fact that over half of our garden this year is strawberry plants that I am super hopeful about. However, right now the only strawberries we have on them are green, so the strawberries I…
When Valentine’s Day rolls around I am all about the hearts. I love heart covered clothing, decor, candies and more. Along with hearts I get so excited about all the pink and red. It is so festive and perfectly fits a holiday centered around love. One of the seasonal items that I look for that…
When it comes to cookies with nuts, if I’m being honest, I have to admit that I am not always a fan. The same goes with nuts in my brownies. I think it is partly because of the texture (sometimes I have an aversion to chunks in my food) and probably mostly because I don’t…
It’s no secret that I take my cookies very seriously and that classic, chocolate chip cookies are my favorite. However, sometimes I’m in a mood where regular chocolate chips just won’t cut it. I need something more chocolatey and I need something richer. That is when I opt for double chocolate chip cookies. They always…
I am a big cookie fan and when you ask me what my favorite cookie is I will answer with enthusiasm and without hesitation “chocolate chip”! However, I have very specific ideals in mind when it comes to what I consider the perfect chelate chip cookie. In my opinion they are chocolate chip cookies that…
There is something about Linzer cookies that I am completely drawn too! Maybe it’s the fact that they have delicious filling in the middle, or that you essentially get double the cookies per serving, or maybe its because they look so perfectly adorable. I love them so much that I knew that I had to…
I get a little heart crazy around Valentine’s Day and can’t get enough from heart shaped everything! Heart shaped candies, garlands, cards and even heart shaped place mats! They are just so happy looking and evoke so many feelings of love and joy. That is why heart shaped cookies often feel like a must for…
My grandmother has always been one of the most important people in my life. She was one of those people that you just knew loved every bit of you the way you were and would love you forever. She had a voracious love of reading that she passed down and was the one who got…
We LOVE Halloween books and we LOVE food over here so pairing together books and snacks just feels like such a natural combination for us! In fact, whenever I read new books and it mentions food or a treat that sounds yummy, I instantly want to eat it while reading the story. Anyone else? Below…
Story times are pretty great on their own. Who doesn’t love cuddling up with a good book to read. However, add a snack and you raise it to a whole new level. It becomes an “experience” and can feel super special for children. And the best part is that the snack can be really quick…
When it comes to cookies with nuts, if I’m being honest, I have to admit that I am not always a fan. The same goes with nuts in my brownies. I think it is partly because of the texture (sometimes I have an aversion to chunks in my food) and probably mostly because I don’t…
It’s no secret that I take my cookies very seriously and that classic, chocolate chip cookies are my favorite. However, sometimes I’m in a mood where regular chocolate chips just won’t cut it. I need something more chocolatey and I need something richer. That is when I opt for double chocolate chip cookies. They always…
“Angry Cookie” by Laura Dockrill and Maria Karipidou Books that help children with emotional awareness and dealing with big emotions are golden in my eyes and this book is a perfect specimen. It addresses the emotion of anger for children in such a light-hearted, yet effective, way. It tells the story of a cookie who wakes up feeling…
I am a big cookie fan and when you ask me what my favorite cookie is I will answer with enthusiasm and without hesitation “chocolate chip”! However, I have very specific ideals in mind when it comes to what I consider the perfect chelate chip cookie. In my opinion they are chocolate chip cookies that…
“Crab Cake: Turning the Tide Together” by Andrea Tsurumi Every fish and creature in the sea seems to have a purpose or a task to fulfill and crab’s is baking cakes. It’s simply what he does. He seems to take joy in baking and sharing his delicacies with his ocean friends. However, one day disaster…
My grandmother has always been one of the most important people in my life. She was one of those people that you just knew loved every bit of you the way you were and would love you forever. She had a voracious love of reading that she passed down and was the one who got…
It is the beginning of strawberry season right now and I am beyond excited! I adore strawberries! So much so in fact that over half of our garden this year is strawberry plants that I am super hopeful about. However, right now the only strawberries we have on them are green, so the strawberries I…
When Valentine’s Day rolls around I am all about the hearts. I love heart covered clothing, decor, candies and more. Along with hearts I get so excited about all the pink and red. It is so festive and perfectly fits a holiday centered around love. One of the seasonal items that I look for that…
When it comes to cookies with nuts, if I’m being honest, I have to admit that I am not always a fan. The same goes with nuts in my brownies. I think it is partly because of the texture (sometimes I have an aversion to chunks in my food) and probably mostly because I don’t…
It’s no secret that I take my cookies very seriously and that classic, chocolate chip cookies are my favorite. However, sometimes I’m in a mood where regular chocolate chips just won’t cut it. I need something more chocolatey and I need something richer. That is when I opt for double chocolate chip cookies. They always…
I am a big cookie fan and when you ask me what my favorite cookie is I will answer with enthusiasm and without hesitation “chocolate chip”! However, I have very specific ideals in mind when it comes to what I consider the perfect chelate chip cookie. In my opinion they are chocolate chip cookies that…
There is something about Linzer cookies that I am completely drawn too! Maybe it’s the fact that they have delicious filling in the middle, or that you essentially get double the cookies per serving, or maybe its because they look so perfectly adorable. I love them so much that I knew that I had to…
I get a little heart crazy around Valentine’s Day and can’t get enough from heart shaped everything! Heart shaped candies, garlands, cards and even heart shaped place mats! They are just so happy looking and evoke so many feelings of love and joy. That is why heart shaped cookies often feel like a must for…
“Let’s Make Some Soup Cause The Weather’s Turning Cold” “Almost a Full Moon” inspired Soup Recipe “Almost a Full Moon” by Hawksley Workman and Jensine Eckwall is a gorgeously illustrated book that is all about a grandmother and grandson who make some soup and invite everyone over to enjoy it with them. It is all…
*This post contains an affiliate link. If you make a purchase via the link you will be helping to keep Book Nerd Mommy up and running. Thank you! I have this weakness when I am trying to eat meals that are lower in carbohydrates. And that weakness comes in many forms: paparadelle, farfalle, angel hair, orecchiette,…
I feel that cauliflower is such an underestimated vegetable, don’t you? It goes perfectly with ranch, has a lovely texture, is healthy, looks cool, and goes creamy when blended. Okay, so maybe I am talking it up just a little bit, but it is great! This soup is one that is super creamy and tastes…
You guys! I am SO excited to share this recipe with you! It is one of my top ten all-time favorite soups! It has sweetness, acidity, spice and SHRIMP! Yes, I did say spice, this soup has a little bit of a kick. Seriously, it’s pretty mild. However, if you aren’t a big fan of…
I’m sure that you have probably heard about the spaghetti squash noodle replacement trend, it’s everywhere. Have you tried it yet? It took me a long time to give it a shot because I’ve always hated spaghetti squash. Like, always. My dad loves to garden and he would grow it when I was a child…
Ratatouille. What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when I say that? Is it a cute little gray mouse? Me too! I honesty can’t recall ever even having heard of that food dish until Remy introduced it to me. However, I was under the false impression that it was difficult to…
